This Week's Facts:

Just because it’s cold outside, that doesn’t mean you can’t
appreciate the joys and beauty of nature. The Indiana
Department of Natural Resources Division of Nature Preserveshas information and resources about Indiana’s Nature
preserves and how to visit them. Under State law, IC 14-31-1, there are over
200 dedicated nature preserves in Indiana. This represents
32,000 acres spread throughout Indiana devoted to preserving the
land and resources. The first dedicated nature preserve was
Pine Hills Nature Preserve in Shades State Park in 1969. Nature
preserves are set aside to protect the plants, animals and
natural communities that are found in them. Hoosiers and people
from other states are encouraged to experience the preserves,
but visitation is allowed to the extent that the features can
tolerate it without deterioration. Nature preserves are located
in just about every county in Indiana. Click hereto find the nature preserve nearest you. There is
specific information on each Nature Preserve within each county
so don’t wait for spring weather to enjoy them!

Most
people know the importance of vaccinating their infants. They
even remember to make sure their kids get booster shots before
starting school. However, the CDC also wants to remind people
that pre-teen vaccination is
just as important. There are several vaccines in particular
that doctors urge pre-teens to receive: Tdap, Meningococcal and
Influenza. Additionally, the HPV vaccine is recommended
for girls. Tdap takes the place of what used to be known as the
Tetanus Booster. It now consists of protection against tetanus,
diphtheria and pertussis (whooping cough). The Meningococcal
vaccine is important because it protects against meningitis and other blood
stream infections. According to the CDC, meningitis can be
fatal within 48 hours of contraction the disease; even with
treatment 10% of the people who catch it die. Vaccination is
the best way to prevent this.

For further vaccination information, check out the CDC website
on pre-teens and adolescents.
It answers questions about the vaccines themselves and also
provides information on vaccination for international travel and
for locating immunization records.

CDC's Resource Connects Patrons to Vital Records

Whether for genealogical purposes or for their own record, many
of our patrons are trying to access vital records. Most of us
generally know where to refer patrons who are looking for Indiana records, but it
takes a little more digging to find vital records in other
states. However, the CDC has compiled a
list that makes it a little bit easier. This
comprehensive list includes links for states, territories and
some major cities, enabling librarians to better point patrons
to the right place to go. Each entry includes addresses, phone
numbers and websites and has links for birth, death, marriage
and divorce records. It is important to remember that the
federal government does not keep these records itself – rather,
they are kept with the relevant state or county. However, this
is a great one-stop shop for taking the first step to locate
vital records.

The
Census Bureau website provides an Emergency Preparedness page
showing a map of Haiti done by the
U.S. Geological Survey and the Bureau that describes the impact
of the Jan. 12th earthquake. It shows the areas of Haiti where
the earthquake was greatest in intensity, and therefore have the
greatest potential for structural damage. While news from Port
au Prince dominates the airwaves nowadays, there were actually
quite a few cities with populations above 20,000 that were
affected. Also included on the webpage are instructions for
accessing data about the Haitian population in the United
States. For more information about what the United States
government is doing to help in relief efforts, visit the U.S.
Department of State’s 2010 Earthquake in Haiti
webpage. This includes a instructions for those who are looking
for people in Haiti and U.S. citizens in Haiti seeking
assistance.

Census Launches Portrait of America Road Tour

Residents of Noorvik, Alaska will be the first people in the
United States to be counted in this year’s census. A Monday
Census Bureau press release noted that
operations have begun in Alaska. Census workers will travel by
bush plane, dogsled, and snowmobile to count the rural
population before the ground thaws and no longer allows them
access.

The Census Bureau launched a 2010 Census Portrait of America
road tour this month with 13 different vehicles traveling across
the U.S. See the online Road Tour map to track the
vehicles’ past and future routes. Check the Census Bureau’s 2010
Census News for ongoing press releases related to
the 2010 Census.

The
2010 Travel Guides are available. The Indiana Department of Tourism
has travel guides and other publications to help you plan your
stay in Indiana. The travel guides contain ‘featured deals’ and
other discount getaways to help you plan a long weekend or an
extended vacation; as well as invaluable maps. You can enjoy
your stay in Indiana whether you’re a lifelong Hoosier or coming
here for the first time!